Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2006

A First Growth of Pauillac seductive in refinement and aromatic intensity

The property

It was in 1853 that Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild acquired Château Brane-Mouton at auction. The property, located in the heart of the Médoc, in Pauillac, was then renamed Château Mouton Rothschild. In 1922, Baron Philippe de Rothschild took over the reins of the property. Visionary, he decided to initiate in 1924 the complete bottling at the château while entrusting the illustration of the wine label to an artist. Each year since 1945, the label of Château Mouton Rothschild is illustrated by the original work of a great contemporary artist. Dalí, César, Miró, Chagall, Warhol, Soulages, Bacon, Balthus, Tàpies, Koons, Doig... an exciting collection that grows each year with a new work and constitutes the famous exhibition "Art and Label". Emblem of the Pauillac appellation, this First Growth shines the great wines of Bordeaux around the world. Today, it is the three children of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild who preside over the destiny of Château Mouton Rothschild.

The vineyard

The Château Mouton Rothschild is a Pauillac wine from a vineyard of 82 hectares located northwest of Bordeaux, in the Médoc. The vines, with an average age of 50 years, are planted on pebbly gravel soils that capture heat and release it during the night, thus promoting the maturation of the grapes. These draining soils rest on a clay-gravel subsoil, giving the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild a power, elegance and unique tannic structure.

The label

For the 2006 vintage, Mouton Rothschild chose British artist Lucian Freud, born in Berlin and grandson of the famous founder of psychoanalysis. Renowned for his portraits with intense and complex materials, Freud here adopts a lighter and more whimsical style. His illustration offers a joyously exotic vision of the pleasure of drinking: the vine stock transforms into an exuberant palm tree, while the lover of great wines takes on the traits of a zebra with a mischievous and gourmet look. A work full of humor and freshness, which celebrates wine as a source of happiness and escape.

The vintage

Marked by heavy rainfall, the winter precedes a spring whose dry and warm conditions are ideal for ensuring rapid and homogeneous vegetative development. The flowering is early, as is the veraison which will be slowed down from mid-July by high temperatures. If the drop in temperatures in August slows down the maturities, these experience a sharp acceleration thanks to the heat peaks recorded from the beginning of September. The grapes harvested from September 20 to October 5 are of optimal quality and excellent health.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (87%)
Merlot (13%)

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Mouton Rothschild 2006

Tasting

Color
Dark, the color reveals an intense cherry red.

Nose
Complex, the nose combines fruity fragrances (blueberry) with milky and empyreumatic notes (blond tobacco, incense, roasted hazelnut).

Palate
A precise and harmonious attack precedes a powerful palate. Crunchy and refined, the tannins combine with a creamy touch of great smoothness.